Hey there!
As you all know, meaning I am about to tell you, Magic Fluke Co. recently moved from Connecticut to Sheffield, MA. As that is only about 70 miles from my house, (about 90 minutes, thanks to some slow secondary backroads), I dropped Magic Fluke an email back in December, asking about tours.
Phyllis answered very quickly, and said I was welcome, just check first to make sure that they'd be there.
Today was the day.
I was pleased to meet Dale and Phyllis, and several of their staff (Hi to Beth & Lucy), and told to feel free to look at anything, ask questions, and play any of the instruments that were there. (Oh PLEASE don't throw me into the Brier Patch!)
Phyllis told me that I was really the first non-member of the Fluke family to see the new place, and Dale told me I was welcome to post some photos. Since I forgot my camera, and my cell phone ran out of juice (The GPS sucked down the battery while driving down), I only got to take 3 at the shop.
This was taken in the side hallway, between the office and the shop. I played every one of the ukuleles in the phot0, plus a few not visible. This area is going to be a Retail Area. Just about all of the Flea Market Music books are there, plus loads of others, DVDs (including Mighty Uke and Play By Ear), t-shirts, and tuners.
While I was playing, Dale brought out the prototype banjo Ukulele that was in the NAMM video the UU guys did. So I started to play. And kept playing.
Man, was it sweet! I didn't want to put it down, and told Phyllis I'd buy it on the spot. Then she told me about the waiting list.
Then, Dale bought out a Banjo Uke body/neck that was in the works. Completely different neck at the heel, and he showed me a new tailpiece they had designed - one piece, easier to attach the strings, and makes it easy to adjust the neck angle.
Then, he brought out another finished prototype - darker neck and pot, and a different type of synthetic head. It gave the instrument a much punchier, much louder voice. Here's a shot of the two prototypes:
When I was in the shop, they had the finished ukes lined up, ready for final Quality Assurance and packing when the order was complete. I recognized one customer - but I futzed up the list, because what he's getting is HIS business, not mine! (Hi, MGM!)
I did order a Banjo Uke - after playing them both, I just couldn't resist. Lucy told me that they'd get back to me in early April, because they need to complete the existing orders before mine can get made.
But I didn't leave empty handed! However, I can only upload 5 photos, so that has to wait....
(To Be Continued!)
As you all know, meaning I am about to tell you, Magic Fluke Co. recently moved from Connecticut to Sheffield, MA. As that is only about 70 miles from my house, (about 90 minutes, thanks to some slow secondary backroads), I dropped Magic Fluke an email back in December, asking about tours.
Phyllis answered very quickly, and said I was welcome, just check first to make sure that they'd be there.
Today was the day.
I was pleased to meet Dale and Phyllis, and several of their staff (Hi to Beth & Lucy), and told to feel free to look at anything, ask questions, and play any of the instruments that were there. (Oh PLEASE don't throw me into the Brier Patch!)
Phyllis told me that I was really the first non-member of the Fluke family to see the new place, and Dale told me I was welcome to post some photos. Since I forgot my camera, and my cell phone ran out of juice (The GPS sucked down the battery while driving down), I only got to take 3 at the shop.
This was taken in the side hallway, between the office and the shop. I played every one of the ukuleles in the phot0, plus a few not visible. This area is going to be a Retail Area. Just about all of the Flea Market Music books are there, plus loads of others, DVDs (including Mighty Uke and Play By Ear), t-shirts, and tuners.
While I was playing, Dale brought out the prototype banjo Ukulele that was in the NAMM video the UU guys did. So I started to play. And kept playing.
Man, was it sweet! I didn't want to put it down, and told Phyllis I'd buy it on the spot. Then she told me about the waiting list.
Then, Dale bought out a Banjo Uke body/neck that was in the works. Completely different neck at the heel, and he showed me a new tailpiece they had designed - one piece, easier to attach the strings, and makes it easy to adjust the neck angle.
Then, he brought out another finished prototype - darker neck and pot, and a different type of synthetic head. It gave the instrument a much punchier, much louder voice. Here's a shot of the two prototypes:
When I was in the shop, they had the finished ukes lined up, ready for final Quality Assurance and packing when the order was complete. I recognized one customer - but I futzed up the list, because what he's getting is HIS business, not mine! (Hi, MGM!)
I did order a Banjo Uke - after playing them both, I just couldn't resist. Lucy told me that they'd get back to me in early April, because they need to complete the existing orders before mine can get made.
But I didn't leave empty handed! However, I can only upload 5 photos, so that has to wait....
(To Be Continued!)
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